Do you view FDRP as something that needs to be completed via to filing, or a valuable DR tool? Do you value FDRP intake sessions? What are they used for? Are 'touchy feely' or facillitative or evaluative mediators best? How can lawyers assist at mediation to help their clients reach resolution?
#sydneybarrister #mediator #FDRP #collaborativecoach #familylawarbitrator … [Read more...]

Medicine has a Hippocratic oath, which adds a moral layer to the practice of medicine, including the need to perform technical skills well. Do lawyers have a responsibility to provide ethical care of clients in addition to their technical skills? The practice of family law is changing. Are you and your practice going to continue on the conga line of law or start your own individual dance that adds value to clients? How - this video will provide tips.
#sydneybarrister #mediator #collaborativecoach #familylawarbitrator #familylaw … [Read more...]

We need to investigate and identify red flags in clinical notes to determine if we have the supporting evidence for the clients claim in medical negligence and to direct our experts correctly.
I provide 10 tips applicable to all medical specialities.
Need further information about risks and complications of blood transfusions please see the video " Are Blood Transfusions an Independent Risk Factor?" at http://www.sydneybarrister.net.au … [Read more...]

You may already have a joint single expert report, which is unfavourable to your client. Can you adduce further expert evidence to determine the issues in dispute?
Tips on how to adduce and admit further expert evidence (if possible) and how to brief experts (particularly medical experts) to increase the prospects of a more favourable report and decrease risks of obtaining a report that is no more helpful than the single joint expert.
#sydneybarrister #familylaw #mediator #collaborativecoach #familylawarbitrator … [Read more...]

High conflict is a theme in family law, between clients and practitioners. As practitioners is our job only to identify the legislation and cases to aim for the best result or do we need to have an understanding of high conflict personalities and how to manage HCP so that we don't allow these personalities to railroad resolution, whether that be in litigation, mediation, collaborative law or mediation? Do we need to upskill and gain knowledge of HCP? #sydneybarrister #louisemathias #familylaw #highconflictpersonalities #mediator #collaborativecoach #lifeandlaw … [Read more...]

All personal injury cases involve court experts, yet on many occasions the court timetables are not complied with by experts and the matters are delayed. What and when to communicate with experts about their obligations and responsibilities to the court? If they are too busy, do you need to find someone else? Does an adversarial system mean we have to be adversarial with our opponents on every issue including when trying to find time for experts to conclave ? If we are adversarial about every issue, we will cause court delay. Where there is collaboration between legal reps, this will assist experts to comply. … [Read more...]

A chat with Kimberly Buttriss, Senior Associate in Family Law at Marsdens Law Group, Liverpool, about the advantages and disadvantages of working in a suburban law firm as opposed to a city firm. Considerations for all lawyers, when mapping out or thinking about their career path and their values when deciding.........what is important to Kimberly and possibly you? A practical, friendly discussion for all lawyers to learn from; including a brief discussion on how to build business and brand with social media and other methods … [Read more...]

When I was employed with medical specialist surgeons for 15 years, prior to coming to law, part of my role was to complete the consent and hospital admission forms, liaise with the patient and the hospital to organise surgery, either in the public hospital for public or private patients or in a private hospital, usually as a private patient. The private patients knew that they would be operated on by the Consultant and consented appropriately to this course, at the time of the consultation. However, the public hospital patients would often want Dr X (Consultant) to perform Y surgery, however, mostly it was the Registrar ('Ghost surgeon') who performed the surgery (teaching hospital), under the guidance of the Consultant (who was not always in attendance). Some Consultants would explain their role (Visiting Medical Officer) in the public hospital system, how the public 'lists' ran etc and others would not be so forthcoming. Some doctors would require completion of the consent … [Read more...]

How many times have you said or heard it said that a barrister yelled, got angry, 'purged' their emotions on the solicitor? How often have you emailed and/or called a barrister without response to what you 'need' to know or discuss, for days or even weeks......as they are unavailable and/or uncommunicative? Do you work with barristers that do most things 'on the run', without proper preparation and strategy? Do your barristers only review the brief for hearing at the last minute and then provide a list of things to be done, with no time to do what is required in the case (this is on the proviso that the barrister was briefed early in the matter)? How do your barristers treat your clients - are they polite or are they condescending? Do they speak to the client in an easily understood manner and back you up? Do you feel like you and your barrister are a 'team', working to support each other to achieve the best outcome for the client, your barrister has got 'your back'? … [Read more...]